School News

Take a look at stories throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact or that you might want to look at again.

Christopher Schweikert, 27, of Coplay, who also is a teacher at Freedom High School, had a sexual relationship with the girl, whom he coached, according to Northampton County prosecutors.

The board had two vacancies due to the resignations of now-State Sen. Nick Miller and former Director Charlie Thiel.

The Allentown School Board will interview nine applicants to fill two board vacancies following the resignations of Board Director Charlie Thiel and state Sen. Nick Miller.

Some worry that supports for families at the schools could be lost.

Khalid Mumin, who has been superintendent of the Lower Merion School district in suburban Philadelphia for a little over a year, will be nominated for education secretary after Josh Shapiro is inaugurated on Jan. 17.

The appeal involves potential open meetings violations.

Workers and their dependents can now get up to $2,000 a year for tuition, room and board at any of the 10 Pennsylvania State System universities.

At the latest hearing for the proposed facility, both witnesses spoke about the need for recovery houses. "There's as much effort being made to get the drugs out there as to keep them also on the down-low, very silenced, so no one really can tell. And they're attacking our young population.” Julissa Pena, a witness for the applicant said.

The board may have violated transparency laws because key discussions about filling a vacancy did not happen in public, according to Melissa Melewsky, in-house counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association.

A five-person panel examined Lehigh Valley programs for people who are incarcerated to access education. They also discussed workforce development opportunities for people after they are released.

The high school students competing at the FIRST Mid-Atlantic District Robotics Championships at Lehigh University this weekend are not merely building robots. They're building character.

The high school will transition into its theme-based status starting next fall when it will offer computer science courses. Future theme-based courses will focus on artificial intelligence and allied health careers.

Jason Moorehead was awarded $131,500 for damages after he brought a lawsuit against the school district and its officials for violating his First Amendment rights.

Brandon Horlick will replace Harrison Bailey III, who resigned in February to fill a superintendent role in Wilson School District.

The Bethlehem Area School District says Principal Erin Hines is on leave until further notice "as a result of an incident that transpired this weekend.”

Easton Area School District is on the cusp of launching a new program to bring credit-deficit students up to date, and ultimately prevent dropouts.

In a 29-second video, the Northeast Middle School teacher can be seen pushing a male student, pinning him up against a chalkboard and forcing him to knock into a desk. The Bethlehem Area School District and the county's Children & Youth division are investigating.

The fifth annual Be My Neighbor Day was held Saturday at Univest Public Media Center in Bethlehem. Children participated in crafts and gardening activities, interactive musical performances, and meet-ups with Daniel Tiger.

The BASD Superintendent’s Scholarship is in its 10th year. Every spring, a senior from each of Bethlehem Area's two high schools — Freedom and Liberty — is selected for the award.

Township zoners approved BCS’s special exception request to use a residential property at 5575 Green Pond Road as an office and work it into plans for a new school at the subject property.

Driver education programs have dwindled in public schools across Pennsylvania, but still offer benefits. In the Lehigh Valley, only 5 school districts offer instruction of some kind. The local intermediate units and private driving schools fill in the gaps.